The 63-hour major in elementary education is designed for students who plan to teach in elementary school (kindergarten through sixth grade) and to qualify for Florida teacher certification. Because this is a stateapproved Teacher Education Program, Saint Leo graduates are assured Florida certification for grades K-6, including endorsement for teaching students for whom English is a second language (ESOL). In addition, Saint Leo graduates benefit from interstate agreements that the state department of education negotiates with many other states to make certification easily available. Students can check the Florida DOE Web page for details (http://www.firn.edu/doe).
The Elementary Education Program is carefully designed to meet state mandates for general education, for admission to the program, for the curriculum components in the major and for graduation requirements. Students formally apply to the Department as beginning juniors. Admission requirements include passing the CLAST exam and earning a minimum of a 2.5 GPA on the first 60 hours of coursework. Students commit to maintaining the 2.5 GPA throughout the program with a minimum grade of 2.0 in every education course.
The education coursework is planned to ensure coherence and breadth of knowledge and experience. Students should take EDU 226 and EDU 222 or the equivalents as sophomores. In subsequent semesters, most education courses are blocked with 11 credits that must be taken concurrently. Each of the first three semesters includes a 6-hour per week field placement in an elementary classroom (a background check will be required). These placements provide opportunities for the teacher candidates to apply what they are studying to real-life classroom situations.
Summer options, as well as online courses, are available to meet individual schedules and needs. Students will confer with an academic advisor each semester to keep on track while also allowing flexibility as needed.
Students must complete a formal application to intern in the semester prior to final internship. This is a full-time student-teaching experience in an elementary classroom. To qualify for final internship, students must
- have a 2.5 overall GPA and a 2.0 in all education courses;
- complete a background check prior to placement;
- complete a formal application by February 15 or October 15 prior to the internship semester; and
- take the Florida Teacher Certification Exam in the semester prior to internship.
To graduate from the Department of Education with a degree in Elementary Education, students must
- satisfy all requirements listed above for internship;
- pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination (FTCE).
- receive a passing grade for EDU 480 Internship and EDU 481 Internship Seminar;
- meet all 12 of the Florida Accomplished Practices at the pre-professional level in the final internship, in required education courses and as documented in the student’s final portfolio.
- satisfactorily complete all requirements for a bachelor’s degree as set forth elsewhere in the catalog.
Notation of completion of a stateapproved program will appear on a student’s transcript when all requirements, including passing the FTCE, are met.
The elementary education program follows the rules and regulations mandated by the state of Florida; consequently, program requirements may change as state requirements change.
| Program Components |
Credit
Hours |
|
General Education |
46 |
| Specific requirements for education majors which may be part of general education |
14 |
|
9 credit hours in Math to include
MAT 131 and MAT 151
12 hours in social sciences to include:
HTY 121 & 122 United States History I and II and
PSY 121 Introduction to Psychology
11 credit hours in science to include:
ENV 201 Geoscience with lab (4 credits) and
SCI 103 Human Physiology & Reproduction (1 credit) |
|
Computer Applications |
3 |
| COM 130 Computer Applications |
(3) |
|
Education Prerequisites |
6 |
| EDU 222 Culturally Relevant Teaching |
(3) |
| EDU 226 Human Growth and Development |
(3) |
|
Semester I (Junior Year) |
15 |
| EDU 320/321 Practicum I and Seminar: Reflection |
(2) |
| EDU 330 Mathematics in the Elementary |
(3) |
| EDU 332 Language Arts in the Elementary |
(3) |
| EDU 334 Reading Foundations in the Elementary |
(3) |
| EDU 319 Physical Education in the Elementary |
(1) |
| EDU 337 Children’s Literature |
(3) |
|
|
|
Semester II (Junior Year) |
15 |
| EDU 360/361 Practicum II and Seminar: Planning |
(2) |
| EDU 335 Reading Applications in the Elementary |
(3) |
| EDU 338 Science in the Elementary |
(3) |
| EDU 341 ESOL Foundations |
(3) |
| EDU 317 Art in the Elementary |
(1) |
| EDU 304 Human Exceptionalities in the Classroom |
(3) |
|
Semester III (Senior Year) |
15 |
| EDU 460/461 Practicum III and Seminar: Integration |
(2) |
| EDU 339 Social Studies in the Elementary |
(3) |
| EDU 342 ESOL Applications |
(3) |
| EDU 425 Educational Management and Organization |
(3) |
| EDU 318 Music in the Elementary |
(1) |
| EDU 427 Educational Assessment |
(3) |
|
Semester IV (Senior Year) |
12 |
| EDU 428 Education Governance |
(2) |
| EDU 480/481 Final Internship and Seminar: Synthesis |
(10) |
|
Total Credits |
123 |
Education Minor
Saint Leo University offers a minor in education for students in other majors who may want to teach at the secondary level. It is an 18-hour minor with an optional extra semester for an internship.
EDU 226 Human Growth and Development or
EDU 328 Adolescence |
(3) |
| EDU 304 Human Exceptionalities in the Classroom |
(3) |
| EDU 336 Reading in the Content Area |
(3) |
| EDU 425 Classroom Management and Organization |
(3) |
| EDU 427 Educational Assessment |
(3) |
| EDU 437 Special Methods of Teaching Secondary and Middle Subjects |
(3) |
|
Total Credits |
15 |
|
Optional extra semester |
12 |
| EDU 480/481 Internship Seminar |
(10) |
| EDU 428 Education Governance |
(2) |
Florida Coaching Endorsement
Saint Leo University offers coursework leading to State of Florida Department of Education endorsement in athletic coaching. The courses are available for all students. However, they should be of special interest to all majors seeking teaching certification. Students may increase their marketability by adding this endorsement to their teaching certificate. The following courses are needed to satisfy Florida Department of Education requirements for an endorsement in coaching:
| PED 320 Theory and Practice of Coaching |
(3) |
| PED 340 Prevention and Treatment of Athletic Injuries |
(3) |
One of the following courses:
PED 322 Coaching Football
PED 323 Coaching Golf and Tennis
PED 324 Coaching Basketball
PED 325 Coaching Baseball |
(3) |
|
Total Credits |
9 |
In addition to the above, the following courses are strongly recommended electives for those students interested in pursuing coaching careers: PED 220 Motor Skills Development and Analysis and PED 230 Community First Aid and Safety.